Why is the OBX headers sooooo much cheaper than the comptech ones, and gives you more horsepower gains??
is there some kind of catch??...like maybe it doesn't "really" give you better hp gains than the CT.
or maybe the quality or durablity of the OBX isn't as good as the Comptech's??
can anyone verify this for me??
SOMEONE TELL ME WHY!!!!
(better not be because of the brand name)

I find it hard to believe that you pay less for more hp gain....

If it is true, and there's no catch to this....i just might jump on the bandwagon myself

 

From all the pictures and comments on Acura-CL .c o m it seems
like there were some minor fitting/adjusting issues with the OBX and from the naked eye the welds seem a little sloppy (by no means not as good)
How much are you willing to pay for better looking welds??
http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...&highlight=obx

HP gains are about the same..Not more

 

You get what you pay for.

 

because OBX = ****

 

an comptech is overpriced =shi t

 

OK... since you guys seem to just be spouting opinions...I'll hop in here with some facts.

- The OBX produce about 2-5 HP more then the Comptech... and this has been dynoed.

- The welds are not quite as smooth as the Comptech welds, however, that does not mean anything with regards to strength... it's only for asthetics. I'll give you $10 if someone can see the inside of the headers after they're installed and they call you on the sloppy welds.

- The OBX Headers are so cheap b/c they are only producing the headers. They bought the design from Comptech and began making them. Comptech had to absorb all of the R&D, testing, and marketing fees, therefore, their prices are much higher.

- Every single person who has had the OBX headers installed by a shop has had the shop comment about how impressed with the quality of the headers they are. OBX typically makes mods for lower end cars... Civics, Integras, etc.... so they're not really known for their quality. This is the first mod they've done for a "higher" end car... and it looks as if their quality has improved.

- The headers have a lifetime warranty.... so even if there's a remote chance that something could go wrong... you're covered.

- You can't beat that price. There's a group-buy on acl.com right now that has the headers for around $390 shipped. Even if something was to go wrong.. you could buy and install two sets of headers for less then one Comptech. I was lucky enough to get in on the $340 shipped special.. which made it even that more appealing.

- Out of all of the people who bought and installed the OBX headers.... only two or three had fitment problems. Every single other person installed them no problem. As far as I'm concerned, those who had problems were b/c of the installer. These headers are massed produced and every one is the exact same. There's no possible way one could fit and another couldn't on identicle cars. It just doesn't make sense.

I hope that helps somewhat. Now you have some facts to make your decisions. Whichever way you go... you will be happy with the results....

 

im sure you saw my right up on A-CL.com about my installation and fitment problems....i can assure you, and everyone here, that the problems i had were NOT in ANY WAY related to the people installing the headers or the tools we had. i mean, point blank, the front header bank DID NOT FIT on the studs coming from the engine block...how is that related to the installers??? we had to use a drill press to basically bore the holes out a bit bigger on the flange and ONLY THEN did it fit. and the other problem, the A pipe was about an inch too short....how is that a problem related to the installers???? seriously, please dont assume that i, or my freinds were incompitent, the problems we had were purely related to inconsistancies in the OBX header production line. in the end however, i am VERY impressed with the gains i have gotten and we were able to get them to install properly without TOO much of a hassle....in my opinion, if you get OBX, you are willing to accept the risk that you may need to fight with the headers to get them to install correctly....but that is a fight im willing to engage in considering i saved over 700 bucks off the cost of the comptechs!!

 

See, I was going to put a disclaimer on that statement to cover may a$$

Jim, in no way am I assuming that you or your friends are incompitent. Hell, I wouldn't even attempt to install my own headers.

I should have included on that post that it is possible that the headers are produced in different batches... and maybe some of the batches produce inconsistancies in the headers. That's really the only thing that makes any sense....

 

thank you for that follow up statement

 

Hey juniorbean did you do the trunk mod yet? Just wondering

 

Not yet.. the guy was away and just shipped the mod Friday. According to tracking it came today.. so maybe i'll install it this weekend.

Don't worry.. I promise I'll show you pics when it's done

 

hey junior...we're getting off topic here, but i saw that trunk mod in person finally at import eurasia last weekend. looked pretty clean on a civic, decent construction and quality.

good luck with it, post pics!

 

I was going to order OBX headers but I decided I don't like cheap s**t on my car. Reason being, I got a short ram intake for $40, It looked just like an AEM or Injen but a week after installing it, I noticed the peice that holds it to the chassis of the car snapped off. I thought it was the same thing, "It's just a pipe, what could happen to it?" now I know...
no more cheap s**t

 

Badazz.... that's different though. You bought a cheap a$$ generic intake.

The OBX headers are the same as the Comptech's... same material, same design and everything. They've been around for almost 15 years and also have a lifetime warranty on the headers. So it's not cheap sh!t... just the same sh!t for a better price.....

 

how many dyno's have there been , i just saw nashua's on acl.com. So not really convinced about producing more hp than
comptech, but oh well OBX all the WAY...

 

theres several posts right now that should probably be combined here, but an interesting thought from another post is that the obx are not true stainless steel, just ss coated. this may effect long term quality, but i'm only planning on keeping this car 4 years, so its not a big deal to me.

 

Nashua's is the only one I've seen... but one is enough for me.. especially at that price. Even if it's the same as Comptech, it's a steal.

agean - based on Nashua's posts on acl.com... they are stainless steel all the way through.... but even if he's wrong.. I don't care... that's what the lifetime warranty is for....

 

i've actually read several places now that they are galvanized base, just a stainless steel coating. that could explain why the ss and ceramic are the same price.

but youre right, lifetime warranty is good enough for me.

 

Im seeing out there that these OBX headers are made in two options... Stainless Steal and Ceramic. Is there any difference to the product w/ either one, or does one look prettier than the other? Thanks all.

2Lo

 

I'm going to merge this into the Comptech vs. OBX topic as there are too many header topics happening here. BTW.. per a topic from acl.com, doesn't really seem to be much of a difference.. especially since they're the same price...

 

Thank you juniorbean

 

juniorbean:

I think the dyno is full of s**t first off because how could a "direct copy off of Comptechs" produce more gains
I probably won't end up doing headers on the TL now so it really doesn't matter to me.
I don't blame Comptech owners for standing by the product, In my opinion, OBX owners are just excited that they got headers for cheap, but we will see in the long run...
oh and BTW why is it that you only see OBX stickers on the rear windows of old beat up trucks and cars
No offense to those who bought OBX, I'm just stating my opinion.

 

Oh and my intake was made out of the same material as AEM, just to show you that it really doesn't matter that the headers are made of the same material, they still can crack, and not to mention the welds looked sloppy in the pics. Do you really think OBX can charge that much less just because comptech did all the R&D? get real

 

Do you know how much R&D for headers costs????? I would say its around a half a millon dollars, or more. How many AV6 headers do you think comptech has sold? Plus another reason they charge so much is they had the market cornered on these headers....supply and demand.

 

i dont get comptech's are overpriced.......1100$ for 30 hp on a honda...wtf u complaining about

 

Thanks guys.. you already answered badazz for me

I'll reply anyway

re: Intake... just b/c it's made out of the same material as AEM or Injen doesn't mean sh!t. Gains on intakes are by design. The AEM and Injen intakes have calculated angles at which the bends occur. Not only that.. but it's also the placement of the bends. That's how the HP is produced. Anyone can take a piece of metal and attach a filter at the end and call it a CAI.. but unless you know the science behind it, you won't realize any gains.

re: Dyno First of all... how can a dyno be full of sh!t? The graph was posted.. both before and after runs shown.... you can't fake that. One thing to keep in mind is that he got 35whp from the OBX. With that in mind you have to realize that his car could just be making more power then others. I have seen stock cars dyno anywhere from 194whp to 204whp. There are many, many variables that can affect a dyno... so he may have just had a good day. Either way it proves that the potential is there to be as good or better then the Comptech.

You're probably right about the being excited b/c of the price. But in the long run, if there wasn't a lifetime warranty, I could buy 3 headers at the price I paid vs. 1 Comptech header... so I'll take my chances.... as did many others.

 

" i dont get comptech's are overpriced.......1100$ for 30 hp on a honda...wtf u complaining about"

im complaining about paying $700 for no value added.

im not here to flame anyone, but it seems like you are intent on picking a fight over this one. if you bought the comptechs and are happy with them, fine. if the obx's were not available, i would probably also buy the comptechs myself. BUT, in the current state of the header market, there is a cheaper alternative that is of similar quality, produces MORE DYNO PROVEN HP, and comes with a lifetime warranty.

I dont live in cali, don't care about CARB. That would be the only reason I see to buy the comptechs, besides personal preference.

enough with the "you're cheap" bullsh*t

 

"There are many, many variables that can affect a dyno."

True. Also, all dynos are not created equal. Heat, humidity affect the results. Operator differences. To get a true reading you really need multiple runs on different days and really even different machines, then take the average. Think of it as a snapshot. I have had my car dyno'ed at two places. The results were anywhere from 218 to 228whp.

 

Check out this article that references the differences between headers.

http://www.mygokart.com/exhaust_basics.htm

 

I posted this in the Ceramic vs SS thread.. but I should post it here too since this thread is popular.....

http://www.v6accord.com/forums/show...&threadid=13275

 

ok, just because headers are made out of the same material doesn't mean sh!t, my point exactly. So gains on headers aren't by design? If so how did OBX buy Comptechs design and manage to produce better gains, this is why I'm saying the Dyno could be at fault; just like TopGum said, many factors can affect the final result of a Dyno. You think Comptech just threw headers on and did 1 Dyno test (like OBX)? I think not. Why won't anyone explain to me how they got 2 - 3 more horses there is no explanation...
I'm not going to sit here and argue about which is better because personally I don't care. If you want to spend $400 on V6 headers, more power to you...
Oh and BTW do you wear K-Mart shoes? they are the same thing as nikes right

 

my shoes are from target


:p whatever, who gives a f^ck...if you dont want the obx headers, i dont care, dont buy them.

i bought them, cant wait to get them installed, so woooohooo for me

 

Have there been any dynos for the OBX headers other than the one I saw on a-cl.com where the car was significantly down on HP before the headers?

From looking at the various pics it's obvious that they're not on par with the Comptechs as far as build quality goes, and only time will tell how well they hold up, but it's hard to ignore that big price difference.

 

Anybody here wonder why Acura didn't go after this extra 30 HP when they revamped the TL exhaust system for the TL-S? Seems like this is a cheap, easy way to make a fair amount of extra HP.

Unless there is a downside to it? Is it possible the less-restrictive exhaust is not good for the engine? Thoughts?

 

The added HP from headers is in the upper RPM range, there is a chance that low end response is sacrificed a bit in order to get that extra HP. Acura was most likely looking for a better balance of driveability. An even better example is the case of a simple K&N air filter, it gives 1 or 2 hp and slightly better mileage, but it does let more engine noise out. They want it quite !!!

 

I figured I'd add my .02 when I read this. I have bought sneakers from walmart. I use them for work around the house, etc. To be honest their quality isn't that bad. The sneakers cost $30, and lasted 2 yrs until they started falling apart. They got the job done. My favorite pair of nikes ($90) I had for about 3 years before they fell apart on me, so....yes the quality of the nikes was better. However, the Nikes cost 3x as much, while only giving me 1.5x the use. The same goes for these headers, IMO. I'll be the first in line to admit that the OBX header I bought are probably not as high a quality as the CT. However I purchased them for $340 shipped, the CT would cost me $1050 shipped. While the quality may be a LITTLE better, it does not justify the 3x price difference. I believe that while the OBX may not be 100% the quality of CT, they ARE about 80% as good, for about 35% of the price.

 

To add to roadman's reply....

Acura didn't do it for other reasons as well. One reason is emissions. You will pass inspection with headers no problem, however, Acura wouldn't be able to get the ULEV or LEV tags with them... Second reason is insurance... buying a 260hp vs. a 290hp Acura is a big difference in insurance and possibly in class. It may cost Acura more to produce more HP b/c other factors would be affected in the governments eyes.

Companies do these things for a reason.... and part of those reasons is why there is an aftermarket industry at all. They (car companies) produce cars for the masses... and the masses don't want headers or intakes or exhausts... so aftermarket companies produce them to give customers the choice of modifying their cars...

badazz... you still make no sense. The fact that they are the same material and same headers means a lot. Like you said... OBX bought Comptech's design which would mean that gains would be similar... which they probably are. I was the one that said there are many variables with Dynos.. TopGum was just reiterating that. I said that b/c I also said that the additional gains the OBX's produced may have been on that one car only. Re-read my post above.. and the reyno part in case you missed it the first time around.

And so you know.. I do wear Nike's and other name brand shoes, but I, like others, also have "lower end" shoes for knocking around the house or whatever. See, now that I saved $730 on headers to go as fast as those with Comptech's I have extra money (on top of what I already have budgeted) to spend on other nice things. It's not a question of being cheap... there are some instances that you get what you pay for, no question about that... this is not one of them b/c they are identicle items with the same material, gains, and warranties... so now it's just a matter of making an informed purchasing decision.

 

I make no sense? No, you are contradicting yourself actually: I said my intake was made out of the same material as AEM and you posted " re: Intake... just b/c it's made out of the same material as AEM or Injen doesn't mean sh!t" now in this post you said items being made out of the same material means a lot. To tell you the truth you are confusing the crap out of me, it's the same concept... Even thought it was made out of the same material, it still broke! I've stated, I don't really care about who buys OBX or comptech, it really doesn't matter to me. I am sick of this topic basically so I will stop posting in this thread; people have opinions and we could argue forever and still come to the same conclusion, it narrows down to personal preference. Don't try to justify buying cheap sh!t by looking down on the proven better quality product...

 

Who's looking down on another product? Not one person in here posted that. It's the same product for a lesser cost. The word cheap would only apply if said product was of a lesser quality... but that's not the case here...it's the same exact design and material.

re: intake: I'm sorry you're getting confused. You must just skim the posts rather then read.... and when you quote someone... quote the whole relevant statement... and don't conveniently leave out the part that brings the idea together. I said.... "just b/c it's made out of the same material as AEM or Injen doesn't mean sh!t. Gains on intakes are by design". So using your intake example (whether it broke or not) is irrelivant. The fact that it broke just means that an Injen or AEM pipe could break too. That doesn't add any fuel to your fire b/c you're then saying that the Comptech's, regardless of their cost, could break just as easily as the OBX's. For this specific example of the headers (OBX vs. Comptech), the fact that it's the same material AND the SAME DESIGN does matter. That's all I'm saying....they're the EXACT same product at different price points.....it's not that confusing.

You're right though... it comes down to personal preference. It has nothing to do with being cheap or buying a cheap product. OBX makes a good product and has been around longer then Comptech (in the aftermarket industry in general). Just b/c it's less expensive doesn't make it cheap, it makes it just that...less expensive.

I think we generally are agreeing here... it's just that you're using the wrong words to relay your opinion.

 

I don't understand why there is an argument between CT and OBX headers?!!

I have the CT headers and couldn't be happier. Now if you bought the OBX headers then more power to you.

Just be happy with what you bought.